Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded its 28th Conference of the Parties by announcing areas of agreement for collective climate action with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and achieving net zero by 2050. For the first time, countries agreed to transition away from using fossil fuels in energy systems while also committing to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the global rate of energy efficiency by 2030.
In response, Trevor Higgins, senior vice president of the Energy and Environment department at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The world came together at COP28 to signal the end of the fossil fuel era, despite the fossil fuel industry’s blatant attempts to protect its interests. This consensus to transition away from fossil fuels is an irreversible sign of progress that, along with a continued commitment to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, sets the world on a path to address the climate crisis head-on during this critical decade and beyond.
The work must continue. The consensus language now must be translated into policy actions throughout the world. Bad actors will continue to seek cover in the ambiguity and incompleteness of this agreement, which will need to be strengthened over time. And the United States must help to close the resource gap for funding the global transition to an equitable clean energy economy. The United States has shown through the historic passage of the Inflation Reduction Act that it is ready to lead on climate action. It must now step up to provide increased financing and support to the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].